Tiger lilies are known by their scientific name Lilium lancifolium or Lilium tigrinum. These 3- to 4-foot-tall flowers produce hairy stems covered with green, lance-shaped leaves and midsummer blooms with petals that curl backwards. The flowers are bright orange with black spots. Mature tiger lily bulbs can develop at least ten 2-inch-wide flowers each summer. The tiger lily is considered native to China, Japan and Korea, though its true origins have not been discovered. In 1870, it was identified as part of a Belgian lily shipment from Japan. It is considered a hybrid because it has not been found growing wild in its native lands. In 2002, the tiger lily won The Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. This award is given to plants with healthy constitutions, stable forms and pest resistance.